The bridge was meant to celebrate the 1988 Summer Olympics, which were to be held in Seoul. A design contest for the bridge began in 1984, and the design was selected by April 1985.[1]
Construction on the bridge started in November 1985.[1] It opened on November 15, 1989, after the games;[1] it was delayed as part of the foundation collapsed.[citation needed]
2001 military helicopter crash
On May 29, 2001, a CH-47D helicopter from ROK Army, attempting to lower a sculpture onto the top of the bridge, crashed and fell into the Han River, killing all three on board.[2][3][4]